Ashland residents begin to conserve water

Ashland, Ore. -- A proposed water pipeline that would connect Ashland to Phoenix and Talent will be almost twice the cost than they originally thought.

The T-A-P (Talent-Ashland-Phoenix) pipeline has been in the works for several years. Last month the Ashland City Council voted to speed up construction of the project to this year ahead of a possible severe drought.

"We are simply going to extend the water line from Talent to Ashland as part of an emergency water supply," said Mike Faught, Ashland Public Works Director.

The city says they can afford the project as long as a plan to raise water rates by 10% goes through.

But the original cost of $2.3 million has now been tossed out the window and is now $4.3 million.

But some Ashland residents, like Kat Gold are preparing for the drought themselves.

"I have drip installation system installed, which saves a lot of water. And I tend to plant plants that aren't too water thirsty," Gold said.

Gold also recently installed several rain water barrels.

"That will give us an extra 200 gallons of water, that we're going to be saving off the roof for extra irrigation."